Ems Voting

EMS Voting notes and discussion

We use the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system, which is similar to Instant Runoff Voting (IRV). STV is IRV for multi-seat elections such as councils or boards. IRV has the effect of avoiding split votes when multiple candidates earn support from like-minded voters.

Quick Video introductions:

• [[1]]
• [[2]]
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8XOZJkozfI&list=FLOSfYvmsj4NzZiKyg3MKMTA
  • Flow chart at about 6 minutes in.

Detailed Descriptions:

• [[3]]
• [[4]]
• [[5]]
• [[6]]
• [[7]]

How to count, and SW to do it:

• http://www.rosenstiel.co.uk/stvrules/
• http://www.accuratedemocracy.com/z_tools.htm#multi-winner
• Online system:
  • http://www.opavote.org/
  • http://paul-lockett.co.uk/stv.html
• Standalone:
  • https://sourceforge.net/projects/stv/
  • http://packages.debian.org/sid/openstv
  • http://votingsolutions.com/cpdetail.htm

Our Current Procedure:

We have been using the STV software developed by http://www.openstv.org/ Their on-line voting site is here: http://www.opavote.org/ The counting is done using the Meek method. We often start the on-line voting about two weeks before the polls close. You need a Google account to use this. We have emselections@gmail.com Clif has the password, though all EMS passwords should be managed by the board. Check that all ems communications go to an official EMS address.

Search terms:

Choice voting, Preferential voting or Preference voting
Cumulative voting (also accumulation voting, weighted voting or multi-voting)

Notes:

Perhaps STV and Cumulative voting can be combined. Actually there is no need because all your voting power would go to your first preference if it was needed to elect them. If there was a portion left over then it would be used as needed until it was used up.

-- Main.ClifCox - 2011-10-21